Bottle capping machine



Oct. 19, 1965 w. PECHMANN 3,212,231

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: WILHELM PECHMANN 774244? f. fir/k0 his ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 w. PECHMANN BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 V5 N TOP IN W/LHELM PECHMANN MICHAEL s. STE/KER,

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 w. PECHMANN BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10, 1965 INVENTOR W/LHELM PECHMANN B MICHAEL S. STR K ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 w. PECHMANN 3,212,231

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q 5 i u t 5 IN VEN TOR W/LHELM PE C HMA NN M/cHAEL 5. gym/ 9 ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 w. PECHMANN BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 10, 1963 IN VENTOR W/L HELM PE CHMA NN BY MICHAEL s. STE/KER, ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 w. PECHMANN BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 10, 1963 m O E I90 IQC IN VEN T OF? W/LHELM PECHMANN BY MICHAEL s. STR/KER,

ATTORNE Y United States Patent 3,212,231 BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Wilhelm Pechmann, Burscheid, near Cologne, Germany,

ass'ignor to H. Strunck & C0. Maschinenfabrik, Cologne-Ehrenfeld, Germany Filed Jan. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 250,988

Claims priority, application Germany, July 26, 1961,

St 18,126 18 Claims. (Cl. 53-307) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 211,613, iilcd on July '23, 1962, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to capping machines in general, and more particularly to a capping machine which is especially suited for attaching internally threaded caps to externally threaded tops of bottles and similar containers.

Many conventional capping machines which are utilized (for attaching threaded caps to threaded tops of bottles and other containers comprise a constantly driven rotary capping head and means :fior consecutively introducing caps into the head so that the revolving head may move the caps into mesh with externally threaded tops of aligned containers. A serious drawback of such machines is that they must be equipped with complicated devices which are capable of feeding caps into revolving capping heads whereby an improperly inserted cap is likely to be ejected by centrifugal force prior to its application to a bottle top. Moreover, the wear on such constantly rotating capping heads is very great. The danger that an improperly inserted cap may be ejected hy centrifugal horce is even more pronounced if the caps are not produced with a high degree of precision and if the capping head not properly centered. it will be readily understood that the failure of a single capping head to apply a cap to a container which moves with a large number of similar containers along the capping machine in a mass manufacturing plant may cause lengthy interruptions in operation and may also cause contamination of a whole group of containers if properly capped containers are stored and invented with one or more containers which did not receive a cap while passing along the capping machine.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide an improved capping machine which is constructed and assembled in such a way that the likelihood of accidental ejection of caps irom the capping heads is reduced or eliminated in an extremely simple manner.

Another object of the invention is Ito provide a capping machine of the just outlined characteristics wherein the wear on the capping heads or on their supports is negligible in comparison with the wear on capping heads in conventional capping machines of which I am aware at this time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a capping machine which can be rapidly and conveniently converted for simultaneous application of caps to two or more containens and which is equally useful for consecutively applying one cap at a time.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a capping machine of the above outlined characteristics wherein the mechanism which t'eeds caps into the capping head or heads may be of very simple construction.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a 'fully automatic capping machine of the above outlined characteristics.

A concomitant object of the invention to provide improved cap supporting means for use in a capping machine of the above outlined characteristics.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides the provision of a capping machine which is preferably utilized for application of internally threaded caps to exte'rnally threaded containers and which comprises supporting means including at least one rotary spindle, shifting means for moving the spindle between an operative and an inoperative position, drive means tfior rotating the spindle only when the latter assumes its operative position, a capping head connected to one end of the spindle, and feeding means for transferring into the capping head a cap whenever the spindle assumes its inoperative position whereby a cap received in and rotating with the capping head after the spindle moves to its operative position may be brought into mesh with the externally threaded top of a container which is momentarily aligned with the capping head.

The novel features which are considered as characteris'tic of the invention are set north in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the [following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a part of a bottle capping machine which embodies my invention;

FIG, 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line 11-11 in FIG. "1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a complete bottle capping machine Whose lirame is indicated in phantom lines to reveal various mechanisms which are accommodated therein; l

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the bottle capping machine as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. '3, certain parts of the machine having been omitted or broken away for the sake of clarity;

BIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section through the hlottle capping machine as seen in the direction of arrows from the line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section as seen in the direction of arrows [from the line VI-VI of FIG. 4, the spindles of the bottle capping machine being shown in idle position so that the capping heads are ready to receive caps hrom a series of separate chutes;

FIG. 7 is a similar transverse section through the machine with the spindles shown in operative position in which each capping head is aligned with the top of a bottle;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the machine as seen in the direction of arrows from the line VIII-V1'II of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical section through the supporting means (for the spindles substantially as seen in the direction of arrows trom the line IXIX of FIG. 8.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a portion of a machine which is utilized for attaching internally threaded caps 20 to externally threaded tops 21a of bottles or similar containers 21. The machine comprises a frame F which supports or accommodates a motor 10 forming part of a drive means further including a transmission 10a having an output shaft 11 for a sprocket wheel 12 which drives two sprocket wheels 14, 14a (see FIG. 2) through an endless chain 13. Sprocket wheels 14, 14a are mounted on vertical stub shafts 14', 14a extending upwardly from and secured to a horizontal platform P which forms a movable part of the frame F, and these stub shafts respectively carry driverfwheels 15, 15a. In the illustrated embodiment, the wheels 15, 15a assume the form of friction wheels and each thereof may rotate two driven friction wheels 16a, the latter forming part of four pairwise arranged supporting means each of which includes a vertical spindle 16. The axes of the spindles 16 are parallel to each other, and these spindles are axially movably supported in a horizontal guide means or carrier 35 which is rockable about the axis 17 of a horizontal shaft 18 so as to swing each of the spindles 16 between an operative position which is shown in full lines and an inoperative position in which the axis of each spindle is inclined to the vertical as indicated in FIG. 1 by a phantom line 24. It will be noted that the friction wheels 15 automatically drive the respective pairs of spindles 16 as soon as the spindles assume their operative (vertical) positions. The shaft 18 forms part of a shifting means further including suitable rocking means 18a which will be described in connection with FIGS. 3-8. The rocking means 18a is operatively connected with and alternatively turns the shaft 18 in clockwise and anticlockwise directions (arrow 18b) in order to move the spindles 16 into or out of their operative positions (arrow 28 The lower end of each spindle 16 carries a capping head 19 and each of these heads comprises a tubular capreceiving member or chuck 19a of elastically deformable material. The caps 20 are delivered by gravity feed along inclined chutes 22 each forming part of a feeder means adapted to transfer into the respective chuck 19a a cap 22a at the time the spindles 16 assume their inoperative positions (line 24). Each feeder means further comprises a ram or plunger 36 (only one shown in FIG. 1) which is reciprocable in the axial direction of the respective spindle when the spindles assume their inoperative positions to that the rams may transfer the foremost (lowermost) caps 22a into the respective chucks 19a when moving in a direction indicated by the arrow 25, and to be retracted downwardly and beyond the bottom walls of the respective chutes 22 when moving in the opposite direction (arrow 27) so that a new set of caps 20 may descend and may take the place of the caps 22a. It will be noted that the upper wall of each chute 22 is formed with an aperture 26 through which the foremost caps 22a may be transferred into the respective chucks 19a when the rams 36 are caused to perform an upward stroke (arrow 25). The means 37 for reciprocating the rams 36 is accommodated in the frame F. The exact construction of such reciprocating means will be described in connection with FIGS. 3 to 8.

The machine of my invention further comprises means for reciprocating the spindles 16 when the spindles assume their operative positions so that the capping heads 19 may be moved downwardly toward the tops 21a of the bottles 21 which are carried by a horizontal conveyor 38. This conveyor operates intermittently and is arranged to advance the bottles in synchronism with the operation of the capping machine. The reciprocating means for the spindles 16 comprises two spaced arms 29 (only one shown in FIG. 1) which are pivotally supported by the platform P (as at 29a) and which carry a motion transmitting horizontal crosshead 31 movable toward (arrow 32) and away from (arrow 33) enlarged semi-spherical tips or heads 30 provided at the upper ends of the spindles 16. The means for pivoting the arms 29 and the crosshead 31 comprises a rocking device which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and which is mounted in the frame F.

The capping machine of my invention operates as follows:

The motor is started to rotate the driver wheels 15, a at a predetermined constant speed, and the arms 29 are assumed to be in their raised positions as shown in FIG. 1, i.e., the heads 30 of the spindles 16 are in actual abutment with or are located close to the underside of the cross head 31. The rocking device 18a is actuated to swing the spindles 16 to their inoperative positions (line 24) whereby the capping heads 19 assume the positions 19 (FIG. 1) in which they are aligned with the rams 36, and the rams thereupon perform an upward stroke (arrow 25) to transfer the caps 22a into the respective chucks 19a in which the caps are held by friction. The rocking device 18a then returns the spindles 16 to their operative positions and the crosshead 31 descends (arrow 32) preferably with the platform P to move the caps 22a into engagement with the tops 21a of the respective bottles 21. Since the driver wheels 15, 15a rotate continuously, the caps 220 are caused to rotate as soon as the spindles 16 return to their operative positions and, consequently, the caps are automatically screwed onto the respective bottle tops while the spindles move downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1. The arrangement is such that the caps 22a are automatically withdrawn from the elastic chucks 19a when the shafts 16 rotate and when the crosshead 31 causes the heads 19 to move toward the bottles 21 to the extent necessary to bring the internal threads of the caps 22a into mesh with the external threads of the bottle tops 21a. It is normally preferred to swing the arms 29 through an angle sufficient to insure that the heads 19 descend with the caps 22a at the time these caps are in mesh with and are being screwed onto the respective bottles. In such constructions, the conveyor 38 normally comprises means for preventing the bottles 21 from being lifted with the heads 19 when the crosshead 31 is swung upwardly (arrow 33). The spindles 16 are biased upwardly by resilient means here shown as springs 34 which operate between nonreciprocable sleeves or collars 39 and the respective tips 30.

A very important feature of my invention is that the driving connection between the motor 10 of the drive means and the driven wheels 16a of the supporting means is terminated in a fully automatic way as soon as the spindles 16 begin to move to their inoperative positions. It is preferred to provide a brake, such as strips 40 of friction producing material, which are adjacent to the path of the driven wheels 16a and which insure that the chucks 19a cannot rotate at the time the respective spindles assume their inoperative positions. Consequently, the rams 36 transfer caps 22a into stationary chucks to make sure that each cap is properly received in the respective capping head 19 prior to return movements in spindles 16 to their operative positions and that the caps cannot be ejected by centrifugal force while the shafts are swung anticlockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1.

The interval of time necessary for the application of a cap to a bottle is not lengthened just because the spindles 16 rotate only at the time they assume their operative positions since it will be readily understood that the rotational speed of each spindle increases almost instantaneously as soon as the shaft 18 returns the spindles to their operative positions. The mass of the supporting means is comparatively small so that the driver wheels 15, 15a may immediately transmit rotation to the respective pairs of driven Wheels 16a with a little or without any slippage. Furthermore, even if there exists a short interval of time during which the peripheral speed of the driven wheels 16a increases to equal the peripheral speed of the driver wheels 15, 15a, such delay is of no consequence because a certain interval of time must elapse before the capping heads 19 move downwardly and advance the caps 22a into mesh with the respective tops 21a.

It will be readily understood that the capping machine of my invention may be utilized for simultaneous application of caps to a large number of containers and that the machine may be readily converted for application of one cap at a time. In other words, the number of spindles 16 and capping heads 19 is selected with a view to insure that the machine can apply caps to a given number of containers per unit of time. Furthermore, the machinemay be equipped with suitable hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or mechanical (see FIGS. 3-8) regulating means which synchronizes movements of the shaft 18, of the rams 36, of the conveyor 38 and of the crosshead 31 in a predetermined sequence.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a complete bottle capping machine which embodies all of the parts of FIGS. 1 and 2. This machine comprises,

an electric 'motor 41 which drives a transmission 42 having a first output shaft 42a for a sheave 43a. An endless V-belt 43 which is trained around the sheave 43a drives a second sheave 43b on a cam shaft 44 which latter carries a disk 45 provided with an eccentric motion transmitting pin 45a forming part of a Geneva transmission and cooperating with a wheel 47 having equidistant radial slots 46 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) which consecutively receive the orbiting pin 45a so that the disk 45 may impart intermittent angular movements to a shaft 48 on which the wheel 47 is mounted. The shaft 48 forms part of the means for intermittently moving the conveyor 38 and carries a sprocket wheel 49. A link chain 55 trained around a second or idler sprocket wheel 49a is driven by the wheel 49 and drives the conveyor 38 in a manner as shown in FIG. 8.

In addition to the slots 46, the wheel 47 of the Geneva transmission is formed with a series of equidistant peripheral notches 50 for a bolt or stud 51 which serves as a means for arresting and for holding the wheel 47 during the intervals between intermittent movements thereof As known in the art of Geneva transmissions, the wheel 47 is caused to perform an angular movement of predetermined magnitude in response to each revolution of the disk 45. The stud 51 is carried by a two-armed lever 52 which is mounted on a pivot pin 53 and which is rocked by a plate cam 54, the latter being mounted on the cam shaft 44. The lever 52 carries a follower roller 52a which tracks the face of the cam 54.

Referring to FIG. 8, it will be noted that the conveyor 38 comprises specially configurated entraining members or lugs 56 which are fixed to the links of the chain 55 and whose recesses 56a accommodate the containers 21.

The transmission 42 comprises a second output shaft 42b which carries a bevel gear 57a (see FIGS. 3 and 4) mating with a second bevel gear 57b mounted on a cam shaft 58 which carries a series of plate cams including two cams 59a, 5% respectively serving as a means for reciprocating two upright supports or columns 60a, 60b. The driving connection between the cams 59a, 59b and the columns 66a, 60b comprises two bellcrank levers 62a, 62b mounted on a horizontal shaft 6'1, each of these levers having a first arm articulately coupled to the lower end portion of the respective upright and a second arm provided with a follower which extends into an endless cam groove of the respective cam. The upper end portions of the uprights 60a, 60b support the aforementioned platform P together with the motor and with the carrier 35 for the spindles 16.

T he platform P assumes the form of a bifurcated member whose arms 61a support the carrier 35 in such a way that the latter is rockable about the axis 17 of the horizontal shaft 18 (arrow 18b in FIG. 3). The shaft 18 carries an arm 62 which is articulately connected with a link train 63 having a lower end portion secured to one arm of a bell crank lever 64 which is pivotable about the shaft 61. The other arm of the lever 64 carries a follower which extends into the endless cam groove 65a of a cam 65 mounted on the-shaft 58. Thus, when the cam 65 rotates, it causes the carrier 35 to oscillate about the axis of the shaft 18. If desired, the cam 65 may be integral'with the cam 5%.

FIG. 9 illustrates on an enlarged scale the manner in which a spindle 16 is mounted in the carrier 35. The capping head 19 comprises an annular outer section 19A whose internal threads mate with external threads of an inverted cup-shaped inner section 19B serving to accommodate the elastic chuck 19a. The lower edge portion of the outer section 19A carries an inwardly extending flange 19C which prevents accidental withdrawal of the chuck v19a from the interval space of the inner section 1913. The inner section 19B is rigid with the lower end of an inner sleeve 1% which accommodates a vertically reciprocable piston or ram 190 and which is surrounded by an outer sleeve 19d, the latter being driven by the friction wheel 16a which is non-rotatably secured thereto by a wedge 192 or the like. The sleeve 19d transmits rotary motion to the inner sleeve 1% (and hence to the chuck 19a) through a clutch which includes an upper clutch member or race 19h rigid with the sleeve 19d, a lower clutch member or race 19 rotatably mounted on the sleeve 1%, a series of balls 19g which are normally accommodated in shallow concave grooves 19 provided in the underside of the race 19h and in the upper side of the race 19], a compressed coil spring 19k which biases the race 19 into engagement with the balls 19g, and an internally threaded retainer ring 19m which is non-rotatably but adjustably secured to the inner sleeve 19b and which serves as a means for hanging the bias of the spring 19k. In normal operation, each ball 19g extends into a groove 19 of the upper race 19h and into the aligned groove 19 of the lower race 19f so that the lower race is compelled to rotate in response to rotation of the friction wheel 16a. Friction between the end convolutions of the compressed spring 19k and the underside of the lower race 19f is suflicient to insure that the race 19] transmits rotary motion to the ring 19m and to the inner sleeve 19]). Of course, the end convolutions of the spring 19k may be permanently or detachably secured to the parts 19 19m. As soon as the caping head 19 resists rotation with a force exceeding the bias of the spring 19k, the balls 19g are caused to move out of the respective grooves 191'; and the upper race 19h ceases to transmit rotary motion to the lower race 19 The bias of the spring 19k may be adjusted upon removal of a radial screw 19i (which normally holds the ring 19m against rotation with respect to the sleeve 19b) and in response to angular displacement of the ring 19111 which latter meshes with an externally threaded boss 19D of the sleeve 1%, this boss forming an integral part of the inner section 1913.

The tip or head 30 is mounted at the upper end of the piston 19c and is permanently biased upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 9, by the compressed coil spring 34 which operates between the underside of this head and the upper side of the collar 39 secured to the inner sleeve 1912 by a radial screw 19q. A thrust bearing 19s is provided between the collar 39 and the upper end face of the outer sleeve 19d, and a similar thrust bearing 19! is inserted between the carrier 35 and the race 1911. A third thrust bearing 19: is placed between the carrier 35 and the underside of the friction wheel 16a. Axial displacements of the head 30 and hence of the piston 19c take place against the bias of the spring 34 which latter serves as a means for maintaining the piston in the starting or idle position of FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 shows that the capping machine comprises four chutes 22, one for each capping head 19, and each of these chutes cooperates with a ram 36 in a manner as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The rams 36 are reciprocated by cams 5%. FIGS. 6 and 7 show that each ram 36 carries at its lower end a lever 66 which is rockable about a pivot pin 65 mounted in the frame F, and these levers serve as a means for transmitting motion from the respective cam to the rams 36 in synchronism with the operation of certain other elements of the machine. The levers 66 and the cams which cooperate wit-h these levers together constitute the aforementioned reciprocating means 37 for the rams 36.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 7, the platform P supports the aforementioned arms 29 which are pivoted to the platform at 29a and which are rockable by a reciprocable rod 69 extending downwardly toward and being reciprocated by a cam 590 on the shaft 58 (see FIG. 3). As explained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, the arms 29 carry a crosshead 31 which causes the heads 30 to descend against the bias of the springs 34.

The machine of FIGS. 3 to 9 further comprises a gripping means for the containers 21 which serves to hold the containers during application of caps 20 to the respec tive tops 21a. As shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the gripping means comprises a guide rail 71 which is secured to links 73 articulately connected with rockable levers 72 cooperating with cams 72a (only one shown in FIG. 4) on the shaft 58 to move the rail 71 in a horizontal plane toward and away from the containers 21 and to press the containers against a stationary rail 71a which is rigid with or which constitutes a component part of the frame F.

The capping machine of FIGS. 3 to 9 operates as follows:

The motors 10, 41 are running and, in the first step, the link train 63 {forming part of the means 18a) causes the arm 62 to rock the shaft 18 and hence the carrier 35 in a sense to move the spindles 16 from the position of FIG. 7 to the inoperative position of FIG. 6. Thus, each capping head 19 is now located above the aperture 26 of the respective chute 22 and the chucks 19a are aligned with the foremost caps 22a. In the next step, the levers 66 compel the rams 36 to perform upward strokes (arrow 25) and to transfer the foremost caps 22a into the respective chucks, whereupon the linkage 63 returns the carrier 35 and the spindles 16 to the position of FIG. 7 so that the chucks 19a are located above the tops 21a of four bottles 21. In a further step, the uprights 60a, 6% cause the platform P with the motor 10 and with the carrier 35 to move downwardly until the caps 22a which are now received in the chucks 19a come to rest on the tops 21a. Of course, the chucks begin to rotate as soon as the spindles 16 return to the position of FIG. 7, and the chucks continue to rotate while the uprights 60a, 60b perform their downward strokes.

The pistons 19c serve as a means for expelling the caps 22a from the respective chucks 19a during or subsequent to application of such caps to the bottle tops 21a. It is assumed here that the pistons 19c (which are moved downwardly by the crosshead 31 in response to downward movement of the rod 69) not only expel the caps 22a from their chucks but that these pistons also move the caps toward the bottles at the same rate of speed at which the screwing of caps onto the respective tops 21a progresses, i.e., the rate of descent of the pistons 19c and the rate at which the rod 69 pivots the crosshead 31 is proportional with the pitch of threads on the bottle tops 210 so that the caps are expelled from the respective chucks at the time their application to the respective group of bottles 21 is completed. The crosshead 31 then returns to its raised position and the uprights 60a, 60b move the platform P and the carrier 35 upwardly and away from the conveyor 38. As soon as the crosshead 31 is lifted, the springs 34 compel the pistons 19c to return to the positions of FIG. 6 or 7 so that the lower ends of these pistons are withdrawn from the interior of the respective chucks.

At the time the uprights 60a, 60b lower the spindles toward the bottles on the conveyor 33, the lever 72 causes the rail 71 to move toward the rail 71a and to grip the bottles 21 just before the caps 22a come into contact with the respective bottle tops. The rail 71 not only centers the bottles beneath the spindles 16 but it also prevents the bottles from being lifted above and away from the conveyor 38 in the event that one or more caps 22a would resist extraction from the respective chuck with a force greater than a predetermined force, i.e., the rail 71 cooperates with the rail 71a to insure that the bottles remain in the conveyor and that the caps 22a are caused to descend toward the conveyor at the time they are being screwed onto the respective bottle tops. In addition, the rails 71, 71a hold the bottles against rotation with the chucks 19a so that the caps 22a always rotate with respect to stationary bottle tops to insure that their application to the bottle tops is completed within very short periods of time.

The chucks 19a cease to rotate as soon as the spindles 16 move to the position of FIG. 6, and the chucks are set in rotary motion only when the spindles 16 reassume the position of FIG. 7, i.e., when the friction wheels 16a return into engagement with the Wheels 15, 15a. The brake 40 of FIG. 1 arrests the wheels 16a while these wheels pivot with the spindles 16 in a direction away from the wheels 15, 15a.

The rail 71 moves away from the rail 71a and the transmission 4547 causes the conveyor 38 to advance a new set of four bottles 21 to the capping station (beneath the carrier in the interval of time during which the s indles 16 move to and again away from the position of FIG. 6 so that a new set of bottle tops is ready to be capped whenever the spindles assume the position of FIG. 7.

It will be seen that the swingable or rockable carrier 35, the means 18a which causes it to rock between the positions of FIGS. 6 and 7 and the brake constitute a very simple and reliable arrangement for preventing rotation of chucks 19a excepting at the time the chucks are ready to apply caps to a new set of bottle tops. Consequently, transfer of caps into the chucks 19:: can take place at the time the chucks are held against rotation and the danger that improperly inserted caps would be hurled all around the machine is avoided. Furthermore, the wear on the spindles, on their bearings and on the friction wheels is reduced to a minimum.

If the driven wheels 16a share axial movements of the respective spindles 16, their axial length is selected in such a way that each thereof remains engaged by the respective driver Wheel 15 or 15a when the crosshead 31 causes the spindles to descend toward the conveyor 38. However, and as shown in FIG. 9, it is not necessary that the driven wheels 16a share such axial movements of the spindles as long as these driven wheels can transmit rotary motion to the respective capping heads 19 when the spindles assume their operative positions. Alternatively, the axial length of the wheels 16a may be rather small if the machine of my invention is provided with driver wheels 15, 15a of greater axial length such as is necessary to make sure that the capping heads 19 are compelled to rotate during axial movements of the respective spindles and of the wheels 16a. Still further, the machine of my invention may be modified by mounting the driver wheels 15, 15a in such a way that they participate in axial displacements of the driven wheels. All such modifications are so obvious that they can be readily comprehended without additional illustrations.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising rotary supporting means; shifting means for moving said supporting means between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to engage and to thereby rotate said supporting means in said operative position thereof; a capping head coaxially fixed to said supporting means so as to rotate therewith when the supporting means assumes said operative position; and feeder meansfor introducing a cap into said head in the inoperative position of said supporting means when said driving means is out of engagement with said supporting means.

2. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising a plurality of rotary supporting means; shifting means for simultaneously moving each of said supporting means between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically engage and to thereby rotate each of said supporting means in said operative positions thereof; a capping head coaxially fixed to each of said supporting means so as to rotate therewith when said supporting means assume said operative positions; and feeder means for introducing a cap into each of said heads in the inoperative positions of said supporting means.

3. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising supporting means including a rotary spindle and a driven wheel coaxially secured to said spindle; shifting means for moving said spindle and said driven wheel between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising a rotary driving wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and motor means for continuously rotating said driving wheel, said driving wheel automatically engaging and thereby rotating said driven wheel when said spindle assumes said operative position; a capping head coaxially fixed to said spindle so as to rotate therewith when the spindle assumes said operative position; and feeder means for introducing a cap into said head in the inoperative position of said spindle.

4. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising supporting means including a rotary spindle and a first friction Wheel coaxially secured to said spindle; shifting means comprising guide means operatively connected to said spindle, and means for rocking said guide means for thereby swinging said spindle between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising a second friction wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and motor means for constantly rotating said second friction wheel, said second friction wheel being positioned to automatically engage said first friction wheel in the operative position of said spindle so as to rotate the spindle; a capping head coaxially fixed to one end of said spindle so as to rotate therewith when the spindle assumes said operative position; and feeder means for introducing a cap into said head in the inoperative position of said spindle.

5. A machine for attaching internally threaded caps to externally threaded tops of bottles and similar containers, comprising supporting means including a rotary spindle and a first friction wheel coaxially secured to said spindle; shifting means comprising guide means axially movably supporting said spindle, and means for rocking said guide means and for thereby swinging said spindle between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising a second friction wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and motor means for constantly rotating said second friction wheel, said second friction wheel being positioned to automatically engage said first friction Wheel in the operative position of said spindle so as to rotate the spindle; a capping head coaxially fixed to one end of said spindle so as to rotate therewith when the spindle assumes said operative position; feeder means for introducing a cap into said head in the inoperative position of said spindle and reciprocating means for moving said spindle in the axial direction thereof when the spindle assumes said operative position whereby a cap accommodated in said head is automatically screwed onto the top of a container which is aligned with the spindle in said operative position thereof.

6. A machine for attaching internally threaded caps to externally threaded tops of bottles and similar containers, comprising supporting means including a rotary spindle and a first friction wheel coaxially secured to said spindle; shifting means comprising guide means axially movably supporting said spindle, and means for rocking said guide means and for thereby swinging said spindle between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising a second friction wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and motor means for constantly rotating said second friction wheel, said second friction wheel being positioned to automatically engage said first friction wheel in the operative position of said spindle so as to rotate the spindle; a capping head coaxially fixed to one end of said spindle so as to rotate therewith when the spindle assumes said operative position; feeder means for introducing a cap into said head in the inoperative position of said spindle; and reciprocating means comprising motion transmitting means for moving said spindle in a first axial direction when the spindle assumes said operative position whereby a cap accommodated in said head is automatically screwed onto the top of a container which is aligned with the spindle in said operative position thereof, and resilient means for moving the spindle in a second axial direction counter to the action of said motion transmitting means.

7. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising a plurality of pairwise arranged supporting means each including a rotary spindle and a driven Wheel coaxially secured to said spindle, said spindles being parallel with each other; shifting means for simultaneously moving said spindles and said driven wheels between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising a rotary driving wheel for each pair of said spindles, said driving wheels mounted for rotation about fixed parallel axes, and motor means for constantly rotating said driving Wheels, said driving wheels being positioned to automatically engage and to thereby rotate the driven wheels of the respective pairs of said supporting means when said spindles assume said operative positions; a capping head coaxially fixed to each of said spindles so as to rotate therewith when said spindles assume said operative positions; and feeder means for introducing a cap into each of said heads in the inoperative positions of said spindles.

8. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising turnable supporting means; shifting means for moving said supporting means between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically engage and to thereby rotate said supporting means in said operative position thereof; a capping head coaxially fixed to said supporting means so as to rotate therewith when the supporting means assumes said operative position; feeder means for introducing a cap into said head in the inoperative position of said supporting means; and braking means engaging and braking said supporting means when the supporting means moves from said operative to said inoperative position thereof.

9. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising rotary supporting means; shifting means for moving said supporting means between an operative and an inoperative position; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically engage and to thereby rotate said supporting means in said operative position thereof; a capping head coaxially fixed to said supporting means so as to rotate therewith when the supporting means assumes said operative position, said head comprising a cap-receiving chuck of elastic material; and feeder means for introducing a cap into said chuck in the inoperative position of said supporting means.

10. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising a plurality of rotary supporting means; shifting means for simultaneously moving each of said supporting means between an operative and an inoperative position, each of said supporting means being axially movable with respect to said shifting means; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically engage and to thereby rotate each of said supporting means in said operative positions thereof; a capping head coaxially fixed to each of said supporting means so as to rotate when said supporting means assume said operative positions; feeder means for introducing a cap into each of said heads in the inoperative positions of said supporting means; and reciprocating means for axially moving said supporting means with respect to said shifting means when the supporting means assume said operative positions.

11. A machine for attaching internally threaded caps to externally threaded tops of bottles or similar containers, comprising supporting means including at least one rotary capping head having a cap-receiving chuck, and an axially movable rotary spindle coaxially connected to and rockable with said head between a pair of mutually inclined postions in one of which the head is located above the top of a container and in the other of which the head is spaced laterally from the top of such container; feeding means including an inclined chute for supplying consecutive caps into alignment with said chuck when the spindle assumes said other position, and ram means cooperating with said chute for transferring a cap into said chuck in said other position of said spindle whereby said chuck accommodates a cap whenever the spindle returns to said one position; drive means comprising continuously rotating driving means positioned to automatically rotate said head only in said one position of the spindle; and reciprocating means for moving the spindle and the head toward the top of the container in said one position of the spindle whereby the rotating head automatically attaches the cap to the top of the container.

12. A machine for attaching internally threaded caps to externally threaded tops of bottles or similar containers, comprising supporting means including at least one rotary capping head having a cap-receiving chuck, and an axially movable rotary spindle coaxially connected to and rockable with said head between a pair of mutually inclined positions in one of which the head is located above the top of a container and in the other of which the head is spaced laterally from the top of such container; guide means axially movably supporting said spindle; shifting means for rocking said guide means and said spindle so that the spindle alternately assumes said one and said other position; feeding means including an inclined chute for supplying consecutive caps into alignment with said chuck when the spindle assumes said other position, and ram means cooperating with said chute for transferring a cap into said chuck in said other position of said spindle whereby said chuck accommodates a cap whenever the spindle returns to said one position; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically rotate said head only in said one position, and ram means cooperating with said chute for ing the spindle and the head toward the top of the con tainer in said one position of the spindle whereby the {rotating head automatically attaches the cap to the top of the container.

13. A machine for attaching caps to bottles and similar containers, comprising a conveyor arranged to move the containers in a predetermined path; rockable rotary supporting means movable between an operative and an inoperative position; shifting means for moving said supporting means between said positions; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically engage and to thereby rotate said supporting means in the operative position thereof; a rotary capping head fixed to and driven by said supporting means, said capping head being aligned with a container in the operative position of said supporting means; and feeder means for introducing a cap into said capping head in the inoperative position of said supporting means.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 13, further comprising means for intermittently moving said conveyor and means for synchronizing the operation of said last mentioned means with the operation of said shifting means and of said feeder means so that the capping head automatically receives a new cap in the inoperative position of said supporting means and that the supporting means automatically returns to said operative position and maintains the capping head in alignment with a new containor subsequent to each intermittent movement of said conveyor.

15. A machine as set forth in claim 13, further comprising means for gripping the containers between intermittent movements of said conveyer.

16. A machine for attaching threaded caps to threaded tops of upright bottles and similar containers, comprising a conveyor arranged to move in a predetermined horizontal path; supporting means located above said conveyor and rockable between an operative and an inoperative position, said supporting means comprising a plurality of parallel, axially reciprocable rotary spindles each having a lower end portion and each being vertically aligned with one of the containers in the operative position of said supporting means; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically rotate said spindles in the operative position of said supporting means, said driving means being disconnected from the spindles in the inoperative position of said supporting means; a capping head fixed to the lower end portion of each spindle and aligned with the respective bottle top in the operative position of said supporting means; feeder means for introducing a cap into each capping head in the inoperative position of said supporting means; and reciprocating means for moving said spindles and 'said capping heads toward the conveyor in the operative position of said supporting means so that the capping heads apply the caps to the respective bottle tops.

17. A machine for attaching threaded caps to threaded tops of upright bottles and similar containers, comprising a conveyor arranged to move in a predetermined horizontal path; supporting means located above said conveyor and rockable between an operative and an inoperative position, said supporting means comprising a plurality of parallel, axially reciproeable rotary spindles each having a lower end portion and each having vertically aligned with one of the containers in the operative position of said supporting means; drive means comprising constantly rotating driving means positioned to automatically rotate said spindles in the operative position of said supporting means, said driving means being disconnected from the spindles in the inoperative position of said supporting means; a capping head fixed to the lower end portion of each spindle and aligned with the respective bottle top in the operative position of said supporting means; separate feeder means for introducing a cap into each capping head in the inoperative position of said supporting means; means for permanently biasing said spindles in a direction away from the conveyor; and means for moving said spindles and said capping heads toward the conveyor in the operative position of said supporting means so that the capping heads apply the caps to the respective bottle tops.

18. In a bottle capping machine, in combination, a carrier rockable about a horizontal axis between an operative and an inoperative position; at least one rotary spindle having a lower end and an axis of rotation perpendicular to said horizontal axis, said spindle axis being vertical in the operative position of said carrier; a driven member coaxially secured to said spindle; a capping head fixed to the lower end of said spindle; drive means comprising a constantly rotating driving member positioned to engage said driven member and to thereby rotate said spindle in the operative position of said carrier; and means for feeding bottle caps to said head in the inoperative position of said carrier.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,856,827 5/32 Carruthers 53-317 1,919,060 7/33 Harder 53307 2,005,186 6/35 Griswold 53-299 2,638,258 5/53 Bowen 53307 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR ATTACHING CAPS TO BOTTLES AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS, COMPRISING ROTARY SUPPORTING MEANS; SHIFTING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE AND AN INOPERTIVE POSITION; DRIVE MEANS COMPRISING CONSTANTLY ROTATING DRIVING MEANS POSITIONED TO ENGAGE AND TO THEREBY ROTATE SAID SUPPORTING MEANS IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION THEREOF; A CAPPING HEAD COAXIALLY FIXED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS SO AS TO ROTATE THEREWITH WHEN THE SUPPORTING MEASN ASSUMES SAID OPERATIVE POSITION; AND FEEDER MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A CAP INTO SAID HEAD IN THE INOPERATIVE POSITION OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WHEN SAID DRIVING MEANS IS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORTING MEANS. 